State Examinations 2024

The 2024 Leaving Certificate results will be available to candidates from 10 AM Friday 23 August through the Candidate Self Service Portal (CSSP). Candidates can view their results and will also be able to print a statement of their results.

Supports Available for Students

The State Examinations Commission Candidate Portal helpline will be available at 1800 111 135 or 1800 111 136 from 9 am to 5 pm from Friday 23 August to Monday 2 September. It is available for queries relating to the Candidate Self Service Portal and the services provided through the portal. Outside of these hours queries may be emailed to candidateportal@examinations.ie

The National Parents and Students Leaving Cert Helpline 1800 265 165 will operate from Friday 23 August until Saturday 31 August inclusive (with the exception of Sunday 25 August). It will open between the hours of 10 am to 5 pm each day, except Saturday 31 August when it will open 10 am to 2 pm.

The Helpline is a free-phone service provided to Leaving Certificate students and their parents and guardians. The Helpline is staffed by qualified and experienced guidance counsellors who will deliver one-to-one support to parents and students. The guidance counsellors involved in the helpline are members of the Institute of Guidance Counsellors (IGC).

Guidance counsellors can help students and parents/guardians with any issue pertaining to the leaving certificate results and the myriad of options / pathways that are open to them.

The National Parents and Students Leaving Cert Helpline is supported by the National Parents’ Council and the Irish Second Level Students’ Union and is sponsored by Trinity College Dublin.

A range of wellbeing resources developed by the National Educational Psychological Service (NEPS) are also available at: Wellbeing support for Leaving Certificate students, parents and school staff

NEPS psychologists are available to support teachers and guidance counsellors in schools as they support the 2024 Leaving Certificate students as the results issue and students consider their future options.

More Wellbeing resources are available to view here

These include:

• Managing Thoughts and Feelings – A Guide for Students

• Dealing with Anxiety

• Dealing with Fear Coping Strategies

• Managing Panic

HSE/HSE-funded service providers will be available to support students through the provision of mental health services. Click the following link for more information: HSE - Mental Health support services

• Turn to me Youth

• Spunout

• Jigsaw

Key dates for the stages following the issue of results including access to data, viewing of scripts and appeals.

How can I view my examination scripts?

Applications to view Leaving Certificate examination scripts through the Candidate Self Service Portal will be accepted between 5 pm Tuesday 27 August and 8 pm Wednesday 28 August.

Leaving Certificate Applied applications must be made by email. The same application timeline applies.

The online viewing process for scripts that were marked online will be available via the Candidate Self Service Portal from 9 am Saturday 31 August to 9 am Sunday 1 September.

Scripts that were marked on paper can be viewed in schools at one of two sessions on Saturday 31 August – 9.30 am to 12.30 pm and 2 pm to 5 pm

Can I appeal my results?

Applications to appeal must be made through the Candidate Self Service Portal between 10 am Sunday 1 September 2024 and 5 pm Monday 2 September 2024.

When will the results of the appeals be issued?

The SEC intends to issue the results of the Leaving Certificate appeals on Friday 27 September. Further details regarding viewing appealed scripts and the IAS process will be available through the Candidate Self Service Portal at the time the Appeal Results issue.

Is there an appeal fee?

An appeal fee will apply at a rate of €40 per Leaving Certificate subject and €15.50 per Leaving Certificate Applied subject. A valid application will comprise both the application to appeal and the payment of the appeal fee. The fee is refunded in the event of a successful appeal.

What if I am unhappy with the outcome of my appeals?

If a candidate is unhappy with the outcome of the appeals process they may opt for one, both or neither of these processes;

a) Viewing of Remarked Examination Scripts.

b) Access to Independent Appeals Scrutineers – Examination Appeals

What if I am still unhappy with the outcome of my appeals?

If a candidate considers that their case has not been processed correctly, in the appeals process and the review by the Scrutineers, a complaint can be made to the Ombudsman or, if the candidate is under 18 years of age, the Ombudsman for Children.

Post Marking Adjustments to the Leaving Certificate Examinations 2024

Two forms of adjustments have been made – firstly, adjustments to exam assessment components themselves including Leaving Certificate exam papers. And then also a post marking adjustment to deal with results in the aggregate. The post marking adjustment has kept the overall results, in the aggregate, at the same level as last year. This was part of Minister Foley’s commitment that there would be no cliff-edge return to pre-pandemic norms.

There is no grade inflation as compared with last year or the year before. Following the post-marking adjustment, overall results in the aggregate are the same as 2021, 2022 and 2023 – no lower, no higher.

How can I see what my results mean for the CAO?

Entry to higher education in Ireland is through application process run by the Central Applications Office.

Information on how the points for entry for higher education courses are calculated can be found on www.cao.ie.

Applicants for higher education programmes outside of Ireland

It is important that applicants advise the Admissions Office of relevant higher education institution to which they are applying of the results date of 23 August 2024. You can send any queries to the following email address: LCinfo@education.gov.ie

Junior Cycle 2024 Examination results

The State Examinations Commission plan to issue the results of the Junior Cycle Examinations on Wednesday 9 October.

Leaving Certificate 2025

In April this year, the Minister announced that the phased return to normal results would start in 2025, with a modest and gradual reduction in the level of post marking adjustment applied to minimise the impact on students in so far as possible.

The return to normal will be done in stages over the coming years, in a phased and student-centred way. The adjustment next year will seek to bring the overall set of results on the aggregate to a point no lower than broadly midway between 2020 and 2021 levels.

The same adjustments to assessment components themselves, including Leaving Certificate examination papers – for example, greater choice - will also apply for next year’s students.

Examination entry fees for the 2024 Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle examination were waived. Students sitting the examinations in 2024 did not have to pay these fees, which would usually be €116 and €109 for the Leaving Certificate and Junior Cycle examinations respectively.

An alternative set of Leaving Certificate examinations commenced in 2024 after the main set of examinations to cater for students who, for reasons such as the death of a close family member, or a serious accident, injury or illness, were unable to sit the first set of papers.

The scheduling of the deferred Leaving Certificate Established examinations was from Wednesday 26 June to Saturday 13 July inclusive, including Saturday 29 June and Saturday 6 July. In the case of Leaving Certificate Applied the timetable was from Wednesday 26 June to Thursday 4 July including Saturday 29 June.

For further information visit the State Examinations Commission website, www.examinations.ie

For the 2024 Leaving Certificate, the SEC extended the arrangements for these examinations for a further year during the first week of the Easter holiday period pending a full review of the timing of the Orals. For 2024, the relevant dates were Saturday 23 March to Thursday 28 March 2024 inclusive. For further information visit the SEC’s website www.examinations.ie

The Leaving Certificate Music Practical Performance test was held during term time, after the Easter holidays, between Monday 8 April and Friday 19 April. Junior Cycle Music Practical Performance tests commenced after the Easter holidays from Monday 22 April to Friday 3 May. For further information visit the SEC website www.examinations.ie